The Marietta girls soccer team celebrates after Annalise Spencer’s goal gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in Saturday’s district final match against Fairfield Union. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

LOGAN — After 71 action-packed minutes of soccer, Annalise Spencer finally broke the scoreless tie.

With 9 minutes and 31 seconds left in regulation, the Marietta freshman got the ball about 18 yards from the net and struck it perfectly over Fairfield Union keeper Sadie Schultz for a goal, giving the Tigers a 1-0 win in Saturday’s district final match at Chieftain Stadium.

Marietta (16-2-1) claimed its third district title in the last four seasons and will play Dover in the regional semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday at West Muskingum High School in Zanesville.

For head coach Bill Mannix, in his fifth year with the Tigers, seeing Spencer’s shot go in was “absolutely wonderful,” he said.

“We felt like that’s where we were going to score from, somewhere just around the 18. Early in the first half we had a couple of chances where we got balls played there, but we didn’t get the shot off. When (Spencer) stepped to the ball and she hit it, I was like, ‘That’s in.’ She’s got a great left foot.”

Marietta’s Izzy Riggs (7) battles Fairfield Union’s Peyton Hughes (15) for the ball during Saturday’s district final match at Logan. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

Schultz had turned away Marietta’s two other shots on goal prior to Spencer’s shot. Just three minutes into the match, Taylor Addis’ corner kick found a scrum of players right in front of the net. The ball got deflected right at the goal, but Schultz was there to nab it.

After a scoreless first half, the Tigers generated another scoring opportunity four minutes into the second. Caroline Cortopassi brought the ball up the left sideline and delivered a cross to Grace Spencer, who stung the ball to the left side of the goal. However, Schultz made a diving save to preserve the tie.

“We brought a tremendous amount of effort tonight,” Mannix said. “Everyone absolutely gave it all they had tonight for 80 minutes.”

The Falcons, who finished the year 13-5-2, had trouble putting together much of an offensive attack. Their best chance to score came around the 19-minute mark in the first half.

Lexi Bennett worked the ball around a Tiger defender and got it into open space with only keeper Maura Misel to beat. However, Addis came out of nowhere and got a foot on the ball before Bennett could get a shot off, and Marietta was able to clear it from there.

“We felt like we had pretty good control of the whole match,” Mannix said. “I don’t even think Maura had to make a save, and that’s a very quality team.”

The win was a slice of revenge for MHS, which fell to Fairfield Union 1-0 in last year’s district semifinals. The Tigers and Falcons meeting in the postseason has become an annual event.

“This is the fourth year we’ve knocked each other out,” Mannix said. “Every year it’s a one-goal game. Sometimes it goes to overtime, sometimes it doesn’t, but it is an absolute great game every year. Case (Bischof) is a top-notch coach. Their girls play hard, very organized. We always, at some point through the district tournament, we find them every time.”

Contact Jordan Holland at jholland@mariettatimes.com.